Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-03-23
NO. 10.
PURE AND MANLY,

Gen. Robert E. Lee was a thought
full boy, for his mother had taught
him to practice self-denial and SELF
control, and to be economical in ex-
pending money. His fathers death,
when the boy was but eleven years
of age, made him "little man."
He did the marketing, managed the
outdoor affairs, and looked after the
comfort of his invalid mother. AS
soon as school had closed for the noon
recess, he rushed. away from the
frolicksome boys, and hurried home
to arrange for his mothers daily
ride. Young as he was, he carried
her to the carriage, arranged the
cushions, and seating himself by her
side, tried to entertain her, gravely
reminding her that the ride would
fail to benefit her unless she was
cheerful.
"Robert is both a son and a daugh-
ter to me-" the mother used to say.
He was the most methOdical of
managers, and the neatest of house,
keepers. Unlike many boys, he did
not think it beneath him to attend
to details, or to do little things with
as much carefulness as If they were|
large. While studying comic: sec
tions, he drew The diagrams on al
slate. Though he knew the one he|
was drawing would be rubbed out toI
make room for another, he drew it|
with as much accuracy and neatness|
as if it were to be engraved.
After his return from the Mexican|
war his wife on opening his trunk
found in it every article. of clothing
he had taken with him, and bottle
of brandy, which had been put in
for medicinal use, unopened.
He never drank brandy or whisky
and rarely a glass of wine, and he
never used tobacco. To apprehend
the meaning of this fact, and its pow1
erful illustration of the lads self
control, one must recall the rollickina
life and drinking customs of Vir
ginia during Gen. Lees boyhood and
youth.
During school vacation, he was
guest in a country house, where thd
host, a fascinating gentleman Of cul
ture, lived a gay, wild life. Yound
Robert, who had been trained to self
control and self.denial, was shocked
He made no comment on what h
saw, but he refused to join In th{
revels.
The unspoken rebuke brought I
his bedside, the night before his del
parture, the penitent host. Th
youths abstinence had shamed him
and he, a man of the world, came
confess to his youthful guest sorrow
for the wild life he was leading.
Earnestly he warned him to bd
ware of acquiring drinking habits
and urged him to persist in his TEN
perate course of life. On leavin
him, the host promised he woul
try to reform.
Yet this methodical, self-control
ed, affectionate, serviceable boy ws
no "goody." He was the son
"Light-Horse Harry" of the Revd
luton, and inherited his father
martial spirit. He chose the arm
for his profession, and friends an
relatives approved the choice.
He entered West Point at the az
of eighteen, graduated second in h
class, and, during the four years
cadet life, did not receive a demer
mark for any breach of rules
neglect of duty. He avoided toba
co and intoxicating liquors, never j
tered word to which a woms
might not have listened, and ney
did deed which his mother ,cou
not have approved. ,S
Lads who think it effeminate
be good, and manly to be bad, q
asked to harmonize their MOTTO
with the pure, noble boyhood of Ge
Robert E. Lee Youths COnapdaiO